What kind of republic are we celebrating?

26 Jan 201903:42am IST

26 Jan 201903:42am IST

Report byIan Pinto

On the occasion of India’s Republic Day, a reader expresses his views about the country as a republic, the journey so far and what lies ahead

Many people are
probably unaware of what the

word ‘republic’ in Republic Day really signifies and why it is a
very important day in civil life. Every year, January 26 is a holiday and the
citizens are invited to observe the flag hoisting ceremony. Students and the
Civil Services have no escape from this annual function. For the majority of
others, it is simply a holiday! Is that all this day is about? Is it only
something that ought to be observed under compulsion? If so, then we have got
it all wrong. Such thinking in fact goes absolutely contrary to the real spirit
of the day.

We hear and use the term ‘republic’ every now and then, but I
wonder if we are fully aware of its rich meaning and long history. The word
‘republic’ comes from the Latin phrase ‘res publica’ which literally translates
as ‘thing of the public.’ Thus, the word is taken to mean ‘public affair’. The
idea of ‘republic’ that emerges from its linguistic origin is therefore ‘a
Government of the people’. When a state is called a republic, it signifies that
it is the common concern of the people; it belongs to the people and is not the
private property and responsibility of the rulers. Power is not monopolised by
the rulers but is shared with the people as well. Does our India really represent
a republic of this nature?

How often are we reminded of the blatant corruption and scandals
that our representatives engage in on a daily basis? Have we grown so dull so
as not to be moved to proactive action? It seems so for the majority of our population.
How is it that our leaders still continue in power despite the current senario?
It’s simply because we, the general public, have not risen up with sufficient
strength and pulled them up for their shortcomings, negligence and failures!

The modern idea of republic can be traced back to Roman times,
to the Roman Republic, which lasted from the overthrow of monarchy in 509 BCE
to the establishment of the Empire in 27 BCE. This republic was characterised
by a Senate, which was composed of mostly wealthy aristocrats who wielded
significant influence; assemblies of people that enjoyed the power to elect
magistrates and pass laws and finally, a kind of judiciary that had some sort
of civil and political authority.

The term ‘republic’
really came into fashion with the French Revolution. The culmination of the
French Revolution was the establishment of the French Republic and the adoption
of a constitution that has come to be known as the Declaration of the Rights of
Man and Citizen of 1793. The Declaration recognised the fundamental and
inalienable rights of citizens, namely, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. These
were recognised as being ‘natural’ and ‘sacred’.

What is the history
of the Indian Republic that we celebrate annually? Following the achievement of
Independence from British Raj in August 1947, the national leaders appointed a
commission headed by Dr B R Ambedkar, to draft a constitution for the fledgling
nation. The Constitution that was drafted came into force on this day in 1950.
The Constitution is not simply a piece of paper that enshrines the foundational
characteristics of the Republic state, but also contains the guidelines along
which it ought to function.

In the recent past,
the Constitution itself has come under threat. Values that characterised the
nation are slowly and forcefully undergoing modification. Such changes not only
jeopardise the republican identity of the nation but also threaten the very
concept of the republic. The Indian republic is facing a hard time ensuring the
rights and dignity of its citizens. Can we say today that we are truly enjoying
the ‘natural, inalienable and sacred’ rights of Liberty, Equality and
Fraternity that are enshrined in our Constitution? If we can honestly answer
“yes” to that question than this Republic Day is a day to celebrate. If the
honest answer is “no” then this Republic Day is a clarion wake-up call!

India is a republic.
That means there is power in our hands too. Despite what you might think, you
have power; we have power! The Government is ours to make or break. Our silence
implies complicity with unfair, unjust and corrupt policies. We have to make
our voices heard. If the media doesn’t allow us to do that then at least we
have the social media. Let us not wait for someone else to incite a change.
Each of us has the power to inspire a revolution. Each of us has a voice that
can reach the millions. Are we daring enough to use it?

Republic Day is a
reminder to us of our role in Governance. It’s true that politics isn’t for
everybody, but that shouldn’t stop us from making our voice heard. If someone
took a piece of your front door every day, would you not raise your voice and
seek justice immediately? Why then are we slow to do the same when it comes to
our nation and its people?

Our
leaders have a duty towards us. They have power only so much as we are willing
to give them. Let us not sit around like innocent lambs anymore, dumb to the
realities around. For too long, we the public have kept our mouths shut while
our elected representatives have violated and desecrated our motherland. It’s
high time we raise our voice and win back our motherland. This is the true
spirit of the republic. Let us rise!